The Mascoma River Greenway

Longtime MRG bike enthusiast, Marie McCormick, with her son Bryce, October 2017

Bike and Learn, Thursday, September 28, 5-6 pm

Join City of Lebanon Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee members on a fall ride on the Mascoma River Greenway. We’ll start and end at the farmers market at Colburn Park and ride on the greenway to Glen Road and back. Along the way we’ll be highlighting some current and planned efforts to improve ped/bike infrastructure in the city. All ages welcome – kids under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. Bring your own bike and helmet. Please register in advance if you’d like to take part in this free event (maximum 12 participants). https://secure.rec1.com/NH/city-of-lebanon/catalog  (look under the “special events” category)

-Marie McCormick, City of Lebanon Pedestrian & Bicyclist Advisory Committee Member

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The above map is the current proposed extension of the Mascoma River Greenway from its current terminus at Glen Road to RT 12-A. Negotiations are ongoing; It is all contingent on NHDOT/Railroad agreement (which has been slowly progressing), Federal Surface Transportation Board approval for conversion of the rail to trail (still pending), and funding in the City’s upcoming Capital Improvement Plan deliberations.

CCBA Camp bikers at intersection of Mascoma/High/Mechanic and the MRG

Thursday’s Lebanon News had info on the NH Dept of Transportation Ten Year Plan for Lebanon – at least two plans will have an impact on the MRG:

*One plan concerns the proposed Rotary/Roundabout at the intersection of Mechanic/Mascoma/High Street and the MRG – a currently complicated and potentially dangerous intersection.

*Another concerns the extension of the MRG from the current terminus at Glen Road, across two railroad bridges, and into downtown West Lebanon and the Connecticut River.

NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) Ten-Year Plan Public Hearing

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT), along with Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, will be taking public input on the proposed 10-Year Highway Plan on:

• Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 6:30pm, City Hall, Council Chambers, 51 N. Park Street, Lebanon.  

The purpose of this Public Hearing is to receive public comments/testimony on transportation projects and priorities included in the draft 2025-2034 Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan as recommended by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Lebanon Transportation Project recommendations include NH 12A Bridge replacement over the railroad (13558A), Trues Brook Road Bridge over Bloods Brook (24221), NH 120 Bridge Replacement over NHRR (24222), Interstate 89 Exit 18/ NH 120 improvements (29612), Lebanon Municipal Airport (40564), Reconstruction of Mechanic Street/High Street/Mascoma Street Intersection (40794), Lahaye Drive (41366), US 4/Mechanic Street/Slayton Hill Intersection (42604), Interstate 89 bridge, NH 10 southbound ramp over the Mascoma River (43437), Interstate 89 bridge over Connecticut River (16148). 

Plan documents can be found on the NHDOT website.

There will be a 30 minute presentation and then 30 minutes for Community questions and input. 

The Valley News report this week indicates that 80% of the cost of the MRG Extension may be covered by the State.

MRG Extension Visioning Study

Fun to see this group of CCBA Campers out on the MRG this morning. Impressed that they carefully walked the crosswalks to access the entrance at Mascoma/Mechanic/High Streets. (Many bikers are not so careful and it is a challenging intersection.) Kudos to their CCBA Camp Counselor!